TSV 1860 Munich is sinking into leadership chaos. The protagonists of the traditional third division club and German champions from 1966 are, on the one hand, Robert Reisinger, the president of the parent club (e. V.), and on the other hand, the two vice-presidents Heinz Schmidt and Hans Sitzberger and Saki Stimoniaris, the chairman of the supervisory board and deputy of the 1860 investor Hasan Ismaik Jordan. The dispute has escalated to such an extent that the main sponsor “Die Bayerische” – the insurance company pays almost 120,000 euros per month – and 18 other advertising partners are threatening to withdraw.
The trigger for the mudslinging is Horst Heldt. Reisinger, according to the accusation made by 1860 supervisory board member Yahya Ismaik, Hasan Ismaik’s brother, wanted to enforce the former Bundesliga professional’s appointment as sports director in the summer “on his own initiative against all resistance”. Schmidt and Sitzberger also positioned themselves against Heldt.
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Traditional club wants to move up
When asked, Heldt told WELT: “It was by no means a solo effort by Reisinger. He picked up his two vice presidents that I spoke to. Managing director Pfeifer was also present at the preliminary discussions. Afterwards there was a meeting with Stimoniaris, who, as far as I know, was involved quite late.” Heldt then canceled 1860 because he did not have the support of the investors.
In an interview with “Bild” at the beginning of September, Reisinger blamed the financial director Marc-Nikolai Pfeifer for the failure of the negotiations: “In my opinion, the further discussions were deliberately delayed – also by the management. They deliberately wanted to gain time so that they could carry out squad planning on their own. A new sporting director would have only been disruptive.” In an email dated September 29th to Martin Gräfer, the CEO of “Die Bayerische”, President Reisinger defended himself against the investors’ accusations of going it alone: ”A cooperation like HAM (the company of Hasan Ismaik, d. Red.) in mind means autocracy elsewhere.”
Internal emails reveal disputes
Reisinger wants to work with the investor-critical board of directors, which only has e. V. representatives, counter this – and do not extend Pfeifer’s contract, which expires at the end of the season and is very popular with the Ismaiks. This triggers an uprising among sponsors who, in addition to damaging their own brand, fear that the mudslinging will jeopardize their ultimate goal: promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga. The Lions are currently only in twelfth place in the third division and were also recently eliminated 0-1 in the national cup against Bayern league team Pipinsried.
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Gräfer had already criticized Yahya Ismaik in an email in September: “We cannot currently see that the goal of promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga is supported by everyone involved with the necessary clarity and, in particular, the necessary focus. This is increasingly questioning our commitment, but also the commitment of other sponsors.” On October 26th, Gräfer followed up on the Pfeifer case: “We have been told that there is an intention to terminate the currently only active managing director within the deadline. Although it is the responsibility of the respective committees to make such decisions, from our point of view this approach is, figuratively speaking, a further low blow, both in terms of communication and in the way it is implemented, which can have a critical impact on the building of mutual trust.”
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18 other sponsors are just as clear in a joint email from October 30th. In it, Pfeifer is praised for his “above-average commitment, his charismatic appearance, the very good cooperation with the sponsors and the acquisition of new KGaA partners”: “Consequently, we unequivocally demand the early and long-term extension of the management contract for Pfeifer, as our further Cooperation with KGaA depends on it.”
A sponsor has already drawn the conclusions: of all people, 1860 Vice Sitzberger. He had his daughter Clarissa Schellong sign all partner, advertising and sponsorship contracts with both Profi-KGaA and e. V. on October 26th due to the “absolutely messy situation between the two shareholders of the KGaA (1860 e. V. and Ismaik, d. Red.)” quit.
Is there a threat of forced relegation in 1860?
In the worst case scenario, is there a risk of bankruptcy and forced relegation in 1860 if further sponsors bail out? WELT asked Hasan Ismaik. The investor’s response: “It would be very unfortunate if 1860 lost loyal sponsors and partners due to the actions of a fickle president. Whatever the sponsors decide: bankruptcy is not an option. However, if the club suffers damage due to the misconduct of certain people, they will be held responsible.” Ismaik continued: “The recent actions and attitude of the president, which were clearly supported by the majority of the board of directors, have shown a deep disrespect for the club staff and shown to the company.”
Supervisory Board Chairman Stimoniaris has meanwhile initiated an investigation into Reisinger’s allegations of kidnapping against Pfeifer. And on November 14th, he was informed about an initial interim result in the large mailing list: Pfeifer stated during his questioning that he had been asked by Reisinger on June 14th to “place acquaintances of Mr. Reisinger, with whom he had discussed this, as dummy candidates Horst Heldt to be proposed to the supervisory board to ensure that Heldt receives the contract.” But Pfeifer did not do this.
At the supervisory board meeting on November 13th, Reisinger did not want to comment on Pfeifer’s accusation. Against this background, Stimoniaris continues to write that it is “no longer reasonable” for HAM to work with Reisinger. Especially since in the cooperation agreement (between 1860 e. V. and Hasan Ismaik, editor.) it is clearly stipulated in Section 4.2 that the supervisory boards must have “unrestricted personal integrity”. The supervisory board therefore commissioned Stimoniaris to carry out the e. V. to inform about the events and to call for Reisinger to be removed from the supervisory board.
The lions are sponsored by “Die Bayerische” – will they continue to do so in the future?
Source: dpa/Angelika Warmuth
A symbolic gesture, apparently. Now it comes out: Reisinger himself announced his resignation from the committee by email on November 15th on September 18th. “His remaining on the advisory board is just as unreasonable and would be a violation of the cooperation agreement,” states Supervisory Board Chairman Stimoniaris.
The four-member advisory board – consisting of two representatives from the e. V.- (Reisinger as chairman and Nicolai Walch) and for Ismaik (Stimoniaris and Andrew Livingston) – is responsible for managing director Pfeifer. The vote on his personnel on November 13th ended 2:2. The exciting question now is: Will Reisinger pull the 50+1 card, according to which the parent club has the final say? This would mean: The three-member presidium decides on Pfeifer. What is certain is that Reisinger wants to get rid of him, Sitzberger is calling for an extension. How Schmidt will vote is unclear.
Reisinger could avoid the risk that Schmidt would also vote for Pfeifer if the board of directors, who is close to him, opens the door to a fourth member of the executive committee. Then, in the event of a 2-2 vote, President Reisinger’s vote would count twice. The Ismaik brothers are aware of this scenario. “Should the e. V. will soon appoint a fourth member of the Presidium (…), then only to ensure that Mr. Reisinger can continue his destruction from 1860 unhindered,” wrote Yahya Ismaik to “Die Bayerische” boss Gräfer.
Ismaik speaks of “bad faith”
Hasan Ismaik told WELT: “This would be another example of the bad faith of the e. V. – not to mention a violation of the basic principles of our cooperation agreement. Pfeifer is doing a solid job and is rightly praised for the work he has done to increase sponsorship. 1860 is a very difficult club to manage and the institutional knowledge is a great advantage that should not be underestimated.” The investor therefore warns: “1860 would be worse off if the e. V. would take such a measure and I would have to seek advice on what effects this and the other violations on the part of the e. V. on the existence of our cooperation agreement.”
Reisinger did not want to comment on WELT’s request, citing “strictly confidential content” of the supervisory board and advisory board meeting. He publicly calls on Hasan Ismaik to have a clarifying conversation with the e. V., either by appearing in person or via video link. Ismaik’s answer implies that he rejects this because he does not see Reisinger on an equal footing with him: “The HAM representatives have always made themselves available for such discussions and, in contrast to their e. V. colleagues agreed to participate constructively in the discussion with sponsors. In complete contrast to her counterpart Mr. Reisinger, who refused to accept that he was merely the appointed representative of the e. V. members.”
Supporter of TSV 1860 Munich
Quelle: Getty Images for DFB/Johannes Simon
Ismaik also warns Reisinger and the board of directors not to install another prominent sports managing director without consultation after Heldt’s rejection, who the investor would actually have to pay. There has recently been speculation about Thomas Hitzlsperger. “Financial resources are made available to the extent that and when the e. V. decides to work constructively with his partner. Instead of trying to impose the will of a few unqualified people on a company they have no business running. Anyone who, to a certain extent, is influenced by the e. V. is forced to come to 1860 will not come with the spirit of cooperation that is necessary for the functioning of our club.”
He sent a clear message to Reisinger: “I am ready to help, but the environment and conditions have to be right. I see no intention on his part to work constructively with the team that I have commissioned to oversee my activities at 1860.” In plain language: Reisinger should pack his bags.
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